a bleeding purple utah jazz blog

Just some off-day quotage…

**Gordon Hayward: You have to realize it’s not the end of the world to be down 2-0. Teams have come back from that before, and they’re supposed to win on their home court. For us, we play our best basketball in Salt Lake City with our fans, and it’s good to have a short-term memory. (2)

**Hayward on what Tyrone Corbin said to the team after Game 2: He took the same approach Devin did.* Just keep being positive, and move forward, and come back home and get these two wins at our arena, and put this game behind us. (2)

*Devin Harris, Game 2 post-game: [How do you put this game behind you?] Kinda easy to do. Blowouts are easy to forget.

**Earl Watson on whether he knew Kevin Durant would be this good when the two played together Durant’s rookie year: I didn’t know, because the physicality of the game was a little too much for him. There was times when he would dribble, and just fall down. He was like a little kid learning to walk. And there was times where he couldn’t get open ’cause guys was denying him.

I remember playing a game against Raja…Durant didn’t touch the ball the entire game. I looked at Raja and started laughing, and Raja kind of winked at me…He just wasn’t strong enough, so I seen the growth and he’s been amazing. (1)

**Watson: My goal is to stay in Utah as long as possible and retire as a Utah Jazz basketball player. Growing up, Utah was always one of my favorite teams with Coach Sloan; John Stockton, who I admire. He said my name on TV [when John attended the SAS game on 4/9] and I tweeted it. I was like, “He knows me!” I knew he knew me because I played against him, but it’s like John Stockton. It’s amazing…

Within five years, hopefully we’re putting up a banner at EnergySolutions, Gordon Hayward’s the MVP, and I’m the old guy on the team that came in and spelled them for a couple of minutes. Ten years from now, I obviously want to coach and stay involved with the game ’cause I love it, whether it’s in the NBA or college. Only God really knows my true path and avenue, so hopefully it’s somewhere where I can influence and help kids. (1)

**Watson: I would have loved to play longer for Jerry Sloan. That’s my only regret in basketball, that I wasn’t alive quick enough to play for he and Coach Hubie Brown. To me, they’re two great people and they teach you a lot about life and basketball, and most importantly how to be a man. (1)

**Watson: Think about the old Jazz teams with Malone and Stockton. They were not nice guys. They would beat you up, and beat you, and then shake your hand after the game, and that’s what we have to get to as a young team. (1)

**Craig Bolerjack on why Corbin won’t play Raja Bell: It’s a personal thing between the two. [Raja] dresses. He’s available. He goes to shootaround. He’s on the bench. Ty chooses not to use him. I guess that’s the message: “Look, you’re here. Fine. You’re getting paid. If something would happen and I have to call your number, then I expect you to be ready.” But I think the message is clear. “You’re on this team, but I don’t need you.” (2)

If Corbin isn’t going to play Raja, the Jazz should’ve traded him or even waived him. Players’ careers are finite, and Raja’s at or nearing the end of his. The Jazz are wasting his time–and that’s not even considering the possibility that Raja could actually help the Jazz in this series. Winning should come before personal issues, and keeping him around so that he can “get the message” is nothing more than a power trip.

**Pace Mannion: I ran into Coach Sloan one night after dinner, and he brought up [Pace’s son, who’s apparently a good junior high basketball player] and he asked me how he was doing. I said, “He’s playing real well. He’s a lot better than I was.” Coach put me right in my place and said, “Well, that wasn’t hard.” (2)

Oh, and Hayward’s comment is also perplexing. After game 1, the Jazz said they’d be better prepared for game 2, in which they’d play with more energy, etc. The Spurs said the Jazz just had a rough night and would come back stronger, so they should be prepared. It turns out that the Spurs actually show up sharper, while the Jazz looked even flatter.

In game 1, the excuse was it being the first, the second should be easier. Right now, it’s coming back home. And the Spurs’ comments are supporting the Jazz’s excuses. The Jazz are going through the charade again and I bet the Spurs just know how they’ll win in double digits again.